Indicating lamp



Jan. 21, .1947. F. HUDSON 2,414,527

INDICATING LAMP Filed March 23, 1945 WITNESSES:

. INVENTOR 5427/1 Hudsan.

ATTO EY Patented Jan. 21, 1947 INDICATING LAMP Frank Hudson, Irwin, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 23, 1945, Serial No. 584,457

'7 Claims.

My invention relates, generally to indicating lamps and, more particularly, to indicating lamps which are mounted on switchboard panels in a receptacle having a removable lens cap.

At the present time, in order to remove the lamp from the receptacle it is necessary first to remove the lens cap and then remove the lamp by inserting a puller into the receptacle to grasp the lamp. The foregoing method has several objectionable features, the more important of which are:

1. The puller mutilates the white interior surface of the receptacle;

2. There is danger of the puller coming in contact with the energized lamp terminals;

3. The loss of the puller causes inconvenience, as the lamp can be extracted only by means of a puller;

4. Because of the tension of the spring members which hold the lens cap in place, it cannot be removed with the fingers, necessitating the use of a sharp tool to pry off the lens cap. This causes the lens cap to spring out suddenly and may result in it being dropped and broken.

An object of my invention is to overcome the foregoing objectionable features of an indicating lamp unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide for removing the lens cap and the lamp from the receptacle in one operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide for removing the lens cap and the lamp without requiring the use of any special tools.

A more general object of my invention is to provide a panel mounted indicating lamp unit which shall be simple and efficient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention the lens cap for an indicating lamp unit is retained in position by a spring clip which so engages the lamp bulb that removal of the lens cap also withdraws the lamp from the receptacle in one operation.

For a fuller understanding of the. nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of an indicating lamp unit embodying the principal features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, of the indicating lamp unit;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the lens cap and spring clip mounting; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear view of the lens cap and spring clip mounting.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown an indicating lamp unit I0 which is suitable for mounting on a switchboard panel II and may be of the type described and claimed in Patent No. 2,331,254, issued October 5, 1943 to C. P. West and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company. The lamp'unit Ill comprises a receptacle I2 for an indicating lamp I3 provided with a lens unit I4. The receptacle I2 comprises an elongated body member I5 having an opening I 6 in one end thereof for receiving the lamp I3.

A flange I 'I is provided on one end of the receptacle I2 to permit the receptacle to be mounted in an opening I8 in the panel I I and secured in position by tightening a nut I9 against the face of the panel II opposite the face engaged by the flange H. The receptacle I2 may be composed of a suitable insulating material and is provided with terminal members 2I and 22 for making electrical connections to resilient contact members 23 and 24, respectively, which are disposed inside of the receptacle in the manner described in the aforesaid patent.

The lamp I3 comprises an elongated glass bulb '25 having metal terminal strips 26 and 21 secured on opposite sides thereof for engagement by the resilient contact members 23 and 24, respectively, when the lamp is inserted into the opening I6. As shown in Fig. 1 in an exaggerated manner, the end of the bulb 25 opposite the end provided with the terminal strips 2 5 and 21 is slightly larger than the cylindrical body portion of the bulb. This enlargement results from the glass blowing operation when the bulb is being manufactured.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lens unit I4 comprises a glass lens cap 3I which i rectangular in shape and is provided with a shoulder 32 disposed in a recess 33 in the flange I? of the re ceptacle I5. Suitable. depressions 3Q are provided in opposite sides of the flange I? to permit the lens unit to be grasped by the finger for removing the lens unit from the receptacle.

In order to provide for withdrawing the lamp I3 from the receptacle when the lens unit is removed, a spring clip 35 is attached to the lens cap 3| and is provided with a split cylindrical member 36 which engages the bulb 25 of the lamp I3. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the spring clip 35 may comprise a hollow rectangular frame portion 31 composed of a suitable spring material and conforming to the shape of the lens cap 3|. The cylindrical member 36is disposed in the opening in the hollow rectangular member 31 and may be secured to the sides of the member 31 by soldering or welding.

Elongated slots 38 are provided in opppsite sides of the rectangular spring clip 31 to permit sufficient expansion of the}. cylindrical rnembei' 36 for the insertion of the enlarged endpfgthe bulb 25 of the lamp [3. The cylindrical member 36 is cut longitudinally at 39 to permit thefexpansion and contraction of the cylindrical member.

The spring clip 35 may be attached to the lens cap-3l by-a metal frame member 4! which surrounds the shoulder 32 of the lens cap and'is provided with inturned edge portions 42 for engaging the rectangular frame 31 of the spring clip. Thus,the complete lens unit assembly comprising the lens cap 3|, the. spring clip 35 and the frame 4| may be inserted in the recess 33 in the flange ll of the receptacle 15. The lens unit is retained in position by-the spring clip 35 which, as previously explained, engages one end f;thelamp l3 The other end of the lamp i3 is engaged by the resilient contact members 23 and 24, thereby retaining the lamp and the lens unit in the receptacle. I

When it is desired to remove the lamp from the receptacle for replacementpthe sides of the lens unit may be grasped by placing the fingers in the depressions 34 and the lens unit and the lamp withdrawn in one operation. The enlarged end of the bulb 25 causes the lamp I3 to be withdrawn from the receptacle along with the lens unit. After the lens unit and the lamp are removed from the receptacle, the lamp may be removed from the spring clip 35 and a new lamp inserted therein. The-complete assembly may then be inserted into the receptacle l2.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a simple and convenient method for withdrawing the lamp from an indicating lamp unit without requiring the use of any special tools, such as the lamp puller previously required. Furthermore, the present method of withdrawing the lampismuch safer than the previous method in which there was danger of the lamp puller coming in contact with the energized terminals of the lamp.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accom- 4 mounting engaging the lamp to withdraw it from the receptacle when the lens cap is removed.

2. An indicating lamp unit comprising, a receptacle having an opening at one end for receiving a lamp having contact terminals secured thereto, resilient contact members disposed within thereceptacle to support the lamp by engaging said contact terminals, 3, lens cap for the opening, and a spring clip for retaining the lens cap in position and engaging the lamp to with draw it from the receptacle when the lens cap is removed.

3. An indicating lamp unit comprising, a, receptacle having an opening at one end for re- ;ceivingalamp having contact terminals secured thereto, resilient contact members disposed within the receptacle to support the lamp by engaging said contact terminals, a lens cap for the opening, and a spring clip secured to the lens cap to retain it in position, said spring clip frictionally engaging the lamp to withdrawit'from thereceptacle when the lens cap is removed.

4. An indicating lamp unit comprising, an elongated receptacle having an opening at one end for receiving an elongated lamp having contact terminals disposed at one end of thelamp, resilient contact members disposed within the receptacle to engage the contact terminals, .a lens cap for the opening; and a springclip for retaining the lens cap in position and engaging the other end of the lamp to withdraw it"from the receptacle when the lens cap is removed.'

5. An indicating lamp unit comprising, an elongated receptacle having. an opening 'at one end for receiving an elongated lamp having'con tact terminals disposed at one end of the lamp, resilient contact members disposed within the receptacle to engage the contact terminals, 'a'lens cap for the opening, and a spring clip secured to the lens cap, said spring clipfrictionally engaging the other end of the lamp to retainth lens cap in position and withdraw the lamp from the receptacle when the lens cap is removed. e

6. An indicating lamp unit comprising, .an elongated receptacle having an openingat one end for receiving a cylindrical lamp having contact terminals disposed at one end of the lamp, resilient contact members disposed within the receptacle to engage the contact terminals, a'lens cap for the opening, and a spring clip secured to the lens cap; said spring clip having a split cylindrical portion for frictionally engaging the other end of the lamp to retain the lens cap in position and withdraw the lamp from the receptacle when the lens cap isremoved. I 7. An indicating lamp unit comprising, an elongated receptacle having a rectangular opening at one end for receiving a cylindrical lamp having contact terminals disposed atone end of the lamp, resilient contact members disposed within the receptacle to engage the contact terminals, a rectangular lens cap for the opening and a hollow rectangular springclip secured to the lens cap, said spring clip having asplit cylindrical portion for frictionally engaging the other end of the lamp to retain the lens cap in position and withdraw the lamp fromthe receptacle when the lens cap is removed, the sides of said spring clipbeing slotted to permit expansion of the split cylindrical portion.

FRANK HUDSON. 

